Pentagon Opposed Bill, Citing Budget And Operational Security Risks Affecting National Defense Activities The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass a bipartisan aviation safety bill called the ROTOR Act on Tuesday, despite strong support from local members of Congress and family members of the victims of the midair collision over the Potomac River. Lawmakers voted down the legislation from Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and the committee’s top Democrat, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state, 264-133. A two-thirds majority was required for passage. More than 130 Republicans voted against it. In December, the U.S. Senate passed the ROTOR Act unanimously. The bill, formally the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act, was being considered under a fast-track procedure typically reserved for non-controversial legislation.
